Amachius governor of Phrygia
ordered that the temple at Merum, a city of that province, should be
opened, and cleared of the filth which had accumulated there by lapse
of time: also that the statues it contained should be polished fresh.
This in being put into operation grieved the Christians very much. Now
a certain Macedonius and Theodulus and Tatian, unable to endure the
indignity thus put upon their religion, and impelled by a fervent zeal
for virtue, rushed by night into the temple, and broke the images in
pieces. The governor infuriated at what had been done, would have put
to death many in that city who were altogether innocent, when the
authors of the deed voluntarily surrendered themselves, choosing rather
to die themselves in defense of the truth, than to see others put to
death in their stead. The governor seized and ordered them to expiate
the crime they had committed by sacrificing: on their refusal to do
this, their judge menaced them with tortures; but they despising his
threats, being endowed with great courage, declared their readiness to
undergo any sufferings, rather than pollute themselves by sacrificing.
After subjecting them to all possible tortures he at last laid them on
gridirons under which a fire was placed, and thus slew them. But even
in this last extremity they gave the most heroic proofs of fortitude,
addressing the ruthless governor thus: ‘If you wish to eat
broiled flesh, Amachius, turn us on the other side also, lest we should
appear but half cooked to your taste.’ Thus these martyrs ended
their life.